Improving Library Services to People with Disabilities - Chapter 4: Adaptive technology for people with physical disabilities using information and communications technology

Whether serving academic, public or special populations, libraries are charged with making information available to their constituents. Electronic access, networked resources and other forms of information and communications technology (ICT) are becoming the norm for information delivery. Technology, largely a boon to people with disabilities, may be difficult for some people to access. Assistive technology bridges this gap by providing innovative ways to help people access ICT. By using appropriate assistive technology, libraries can improve information access – apatrons. This chapter explores assistive technology and its implications for people who have disabilities. Using the Australian experience as a foundation, the authors discuss assistive technology and disability; how assistive technology 4 facilitates ICT use; how libraries can promote assistive technology; and how libraries can select assistive technology that will be used by their patrons